QUESTIO

N FORMS
There are several ways of asking questions
Question forms
There are several ways of asking questions in English.
Direct questions with a question word When did you start snowboarding?
as the object

Direct question with a question word Who taught you all your highly develped IT skills?
as the subject

Negative questions Isn’t it normal to offer a seat to an elderly person in a bus?

Hypothetical questions What would you do if you found a wallet full of cash?

Either/Or questions When or where did you meet your partner?

Indirect questions with a question word Would you mind telling me when exactly you were born?

Indirect Yes/No questions with if/ Could you tell me whether or not you want to get married?
whether/ whether or not

You are black belt at judo, aren’t you?

Tag questions
You are not black belt at judo, are you?
How to structure each
Direct questions with a question word as the
01 object
Question word + auxiliary verb + subject + main verb +
complements?
02 Direct question with a question word as the subject

Questions word + verb + subject + complements?

03 Negative questions
Negative word + subject + verb + complements?
Hypothetical questions
Question word + would + subject + main verb + if +
04 subject + past form of the verb + complement?
How to structure each
05 Either/Or questions
You can describe the topic of the section here
Indirect questions with a question word
06 Auxiliary verb/ Modal verb + subject + main verb + question
word + object + verb to be ?

Indirect Yes/No questions with if/ whether/ whether

07 or not
Auxiliary verb/ Modal verb + subject + main verb + whether/ whether or
not/ if + subject + main verb + complement?
Tag questions
08 Positive with be: Subject + be + verb + complement + comma + be in
negative form + subject?
Negative with be: Subject + negative be + verb + complement + comma +
be + subject?
With other verbs (positive): Subject + verb + complement + comma +
negative verb + subject?
Uses of all
Questions
forms
 Direct questions with a question word as the object

A direct question is a question that can be answered (i.e., it is not a

statement) and always ends in a question mark. For example:
• Have you ever sent a text message to the wrong person?
• Do you fold your pizza when you eat it?
• What would be the coolest animal to scale up to the size of a horse?
 Negative questions
A negative question can have two different kinds of meanings. It can, for example, be used to ask for
confirmation of something you believe to be true.
Didn’t you see Ann yesterday? How is she doing? (= I believe that you saw Ann yesterday.)
You may also express your opinions in a more polite way by changing them into negative questions.
Wouldn’t it be nice to paint that wall green? (More polite than ‘It would be nice to
paint that wall green.’)
A negative question can also be used to ask for confirmation of a negative belief. In this case the
speaker is surprised that something has not happened or is not happening.
Hasn’t the postman come yet?
Pressing offers and invitations often assume the form of negative questions. They usually
begin Won’t you…? Wouldn’t you…? or Why don’t you…?
Wouldn’t you like something to drink?
Why don’t you come and spend the evening with us?
 Hypothetical questions

Hypothetical questions are questions based on imaginary scenarios. They’re used

to explore possibilities, get you thinking in new directions, or
get to know someone else better.
• If you could only eat one kind of food for the rest of your life, what would it
be?
• You have the power to magically mix three apps, what would they be?
 Indirect questions with a question word
Indirect questions are a little more formal and polite. We use them when talking
to a person we don’t know very well, or in professional situations, and their
form is a little different.
Example of an indirect question:
“Could you tell me where the bathroom is?”
Direct: Where is Market Street?
Indirect: Could you tell me where Market Street is?
 Tag questions
We often use question tags when we expect the listener to agree with our statement. In
this case, when the statement is positive, we use a negative question tag.
She's a doctor, isn't she?
Yesterday was so much fun, wasn't it?
If the statement is negative, we use a positive question tag.
He isn't here, is he?
Nobody has called for me, have they?
If we are sure or almost sure that the listener will confirm that our statement is correct,
we say the question tag with a falling intonation.
If we are a bit less sure, we say the question tag with a rising intonation.
 Special reminder
Remember also that intonation is important with question tags.
The tag should have a rising intonation if you are asking a
question but falling intonation if you are confirming
information.
Thanks!
Do you have any questions?

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